A Jobcentre Plus spokesman told Personnel Today: “We have gone out to the Cowley site to sit with people that have been made redundant and go through their benefit claims. We have to be invited by the employer – Jobcentre Plus has worked closely with BMW to provide this.”

He added there was no preference of treatment for the Cowley workers above any other people being made redundant, as Jobcentre services were in huge demand across the country as more industries make job cuts.

Sacked staff will also get the chance to pick up ‘job kits’, which give advice on how to write a CV or cover letter to find a new job. “Our staff will give those [now unemployed] workers advice and if they have any knowledge or details of companies looking for work they will pass that on,” the spokesman said.

The Mini plant is in the middle of a week-long shutdown and will not re-open until 23 February. When work resumes, the plant will no longer operate weekend shifts.